Tag clusters for silent tags

ABSTRACT

Tags may be grouped into a tag cluster to be represented by a master tag. Tag transmission reports may be received from one or more tag readers that receive wireless transmissions from a plurality of tags. Tag IDs corresponding to each tag of the plurality of tags in the tag transmission reports may be determined. A plurality of the tag IDs may be grouped into a tag cluster and one of the tag IDs may be selected as a master tag ID to represent the tag cluster. A control command may be transmitted to each tag of the tag cluster except for the master tag. The control command may instruct each tag of the tag cluster except the master tag to stop broadcasting wireless transmissions. The tags in the tag cluster will be represented by the master tag.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national stage application of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP2014/000923, filed on 21 Feb. 2014,the disclosure and content of which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of this invention relate to tag broadcast management.

BACKGROUND ART

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags may be embedded in orattached to items that can store identification information and otherdetails. Tags may be small devices, such as a label, with a miniatureembedded antenna. A tag reader may interrogate the tag by transmittingan RFID signal, which energizes the embedded antenna to provide powerfor the tag to transmit a responsive RFID signal to the reader. Sometags may have a power source and/or circuitry to provide transmissionsor broadcasts to be picked up by tag readers. Tag readers may bestationary or mobile.

RFID tags may be used to gather information for many commercial andconsumer purposes. However, considering the increase in the number oftags, it is possible to exhaust available spectral bandwidth if manytags are broadcasting at the same location. Also, many tags have limitedresources and frequent broadcasting may exhaust power supplies.

SUMMARY

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a tag managementserver for grouping a plurality of tags may include a processor, acommunication interface coupled to the processor and a memory coupled tothe processor that includes computer readable program code embodied inthe memory that when executed by the processor causes the processor toperform operations. The operations may include receiving, at thecommunication interface, one or more tag transmission reports from oneor more tag readers that receives wireless transmissions from theplurality of tags and determining a tag identification (ID)corresponding to each tag of the plurality of tags in the tagtransmission reports. The operations may also include grouping aplurality of the tag IDs into a tag cluster and selecting one of the tagIDs as a master tag ID to represent the tag cluster. The operations mayfurther include instructing the tag reader(s) to transmit a controlcommand to each tag of the tag cluster except for a master tagcorresponding to the master tag ID. The control command may instructeach tag of the tag cluster except the master tag to stop broadcastingwireless transmissions.

According to some embodiments, the one or more tag transmission reportsincludes a first transmission report comprising tag IDs for wirelesstransmissions from the plurality of tags, and the operations may furtherinclude receiving a second tag transmission report from the tagreader(s) including the master tag ID but not tag IDs of the other tagsof the tag cluster. The operations may further comprise determiningupdated information of the master tag ID from the second tagtransmission report and updating information stored at the tagmanagement server for all tag IDs of the tag cluster based on theupdated information of the master tag ID.

According to some embodiments, the control command may includeinstructions for each tag of the tag cluster except the master tag tolisten for broadcasts from the master tag. The control command may alsoinclude a master priority list comprising a prioritized list of tag IDsof the tag cluster. A tag of the tag cluster may become the master tagaccording to a priority of the corresponding tag ID in the masterpriority list. The master priority list may include a plurality ofalternate IDs for each tag ID in the master priority list (e.g., Master1, ID 0, Master 1, ID 1, Master 1, ID 2, Master 2, ID 0, Master 2, ID 1,Master 2, ID 2). Each tag of the tag cluster that is not the master tagmay listen for wireless transmissions of a highest priority tag ID andalternate ID. The control command may further include instructions forthe master tag to broadcast during a broadcast time window and for anyother tags to listen during the broadcast time window.

In some cases, a tag cluster or master tag may have an expiration time.For example, a tag cluster may live for up to 3 hours before the tagcluster expires or a new master tag is selected. At this point, ahighest priority master tag alternate identity is discarded and a newmaster or new alternate identity of a master is selected.

According to some embodiments, the operations further compriseinstructing the tag reader to transmit a wake command to the master tag,the wake command instructing the master tag to include a wake up flag ina wireless transmission to cause other tags of the tag cluster notbroadcasting wireless transmissions to resume broadcasting wirelesstransmissions.

According to some embodiments, a mobile communication terminal forgrouping a plurality of tags may include a processor, a communicationinterface coupled to the processor and a memory coupled to the processorthat includes computer readable program code embodied in the memory thatwhen executed by the processor causes the processor to performoperations. The operations may include receiving, at the communicationinterface, wireless transmissions from the plurality of tags,determining a tag ID corresponding to each tag of the plurality of tagsfrom the wireless transmissions, grouping a plurality of the tag Ws intoa tag cluster, selecting one of the tag IDs as a master tag ID torepresent the tag cluster, and transmitting a control command to eachtag of the tag cluster except for a master tag corresponding to themaster tag ID, the control command instructing each tag of the tagcluster except the master tag to stop broadcasting wirelesstransmissions.

According to some embodiments, the wireless transmissions of theplurality of tags may include tag IDs, and the operations may furtherinclude receiving wireless transmissions from the master tag but notfrom other tags of the tag cluster. Operation may also includedetermining updated information of the master tag ID from the wirelesstransmissions from the master tag and updating information stored at themobile communication terminal for all tag IDs of the tag cluster basedon the updated information of the master tag ID.

According to some embodiments, the control command may includeinstructions for each tag of the tag cluster except the master tag tolisten for broadcasts from the master tag. The control command may alsoinclude a master priority list comprising a prioritized list of tag IDsof the tag cluster. A tag of the tag cluster may become the master tagaccording to a priority of the corresponding tag ID in the masterpriority list.

According to some embodiments, a tag may include a communicationinterface coupled to the processor that is configured to receive andtransmit wireless transmissions and a digital logic circuit configuredto perform operations. The operations may include broadcasting wirelesstransmissions comprising a tag ID of the tag responsive to receivingsignals from a tag reader, receiving a control command from the tagreader, preventing, responsive to the control command, furtherbroadcasting of wireless transmissions in response to signals receivedfrom the tag reader, and receiving wireless transmissions from a mastertag appointed to represent the tag and other tags that form a cluster oftags.

According to some embodiments, the operations may further includeresuming broadcasting of the wireless transmissions responsive to nolonger detecting wireless transmissions from the master tag within alistening time window. The operations may further include widening thelistening time window responsive to no longer detecting wirelesstransmissions from the master tag during the listening time window. Theoperations may also include narrowing the listening time windowresponsive to receiving wireless transmissions from a new master tagduring the widened listening time window.

According to some embodiments, the control command may include a masterpriority list comprising a prioritized list of tag IDs, and theoperations may further include listening for wireless transmissions froma tag having a tag ID matching a highest priority tag ID in the masterpriority list and, responsive to detecting no wireless transmissionsfrom the master tag having a tag ID matching a highest priority tag IDin the master priority list during a listening time window, discardingthe highest priority tag ID in the master priority list and listeningfor wireless transmissions from a tag having a tag ID matching a newhighest priority tag ID in the master priority list. The operations mayalso include broadcasting wireless transmissions responsive to detectingno wireless transmissions from a tag having a tag ID matching a prioritytag ID in the master priority list during the listening time window.

According to some embodiments, the master priority list may include aplurality of alternate IDs for each tag ID in the master priority list,and the operations may further include listening for wirelesstransmissions from a tag having a tag ID and an alternate ID matching ahighest priority tag ID and alternate ID in the master priority listand, responsive to detecting no wireless transmissions from the mastertag having a tag ID and an alternate ID matching a highest priority tagID and alternate ID in the master priority list during the listeningtime window, discarding the highest priority tag ID and alternate ID inthe master priority list and listening for wireless transmissions from atag having a tag ID matching the highest priority tag ID and a newalternate ID in the master priority list.

Other devices, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments of the invention will be or become apparent to one withskill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional devices, methods,and/or computer program products be included within this description, bewithin the scope of the present invention, and be protected by theaccompanying claims. Moreover, it is intended that all embodimentsdisclosed herein can be implemented separately or combined in any wayand/or combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate certain embodiment(s) of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a tag reader receiving tagtransmissions according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic block diagrams that illustrate a tag accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a master tag according to someembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a tag managementserver according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a missing master tag according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a new master tag according to someembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart that illustrates operations of a method forgrouping tags into a cluster according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart that illustrates operations of a method forupdating information of a tag cluster according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a mobilecommunication terminal according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart that illustrates operations of a tag according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of updating information of a tagcluster according to some embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a master priority list accordingto some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. However,this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope ofthe invention to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that, as used herein, the term “comprising” or“comprises” is open-ended, and includes one or more stated elements,steps and/or functions without precluding one or more unstated elements,steps and/or functions. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. The term “and/or” and “I” includesany and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of regions may beexaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Some embodiments may be embodied in hardware and/or in software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). Consequently,as used herein, the term “signal” may take the form of a continuouswaveform and/or discrete value(s), such as digital value(s) in a memoryor register. Furthermore, various embodiments may take the form of acomputer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readablestorage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program codeembodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system. Accordingly, as used herein, the terms “module,”“circuit” and “controller” may take the form of digital circuitry, suchas computer-readable program code executed by an instruction processingdevice(s) (e.g., general purpose microprocessor and/or digital signalprocessor), and/or analog circuitry.

Embodiments are described below with reference to block diagrams andoperational flow charts. It is to be understood that the functions/actsnoted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operationalillustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in factbe executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/actsinvolved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communicationpaths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to beunderstood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to thedepicted arrows.

Tags may be used to track items or people for commercial or personalpurposes. The tags may be attached to moveable objects and may be anyshape/size that can be incorporated into/on the moveable objects.Moveable objects can include, without limitation, wallets, keys, bags,mobile telephones, clothing, automobiles or other moveable items. Tagsmay include devices, labels or printed inks on paper.

However, considering a large number of tags, it is possible to exhaustavailable spectral bandwidth if many tags are broadcasting at the samelocation. Depending on the broadcast frequency, the number ofsimultaneous tags may be limited (maybe in the hundreds). For example, alarge parking lot could host several hundred tags in each of theautomobiles, all broadcasting in a small area and thereby overloadingthe available spectral bandwidth. Also, many tags have limited powerresources and frequent broadcasting may exhaust small power supplies.

Embodiments described herein may improve the power efficiency of tags(10+ times depending of density of tags at a single location), improvethe power efficiency of tag readers (e.g. phone), improve anonymity oftags, and/or improve spectral efficiency (to allow more tags at a singlelocation) by using smart clustering techniques to enable theseimprovements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram 100 of tags 102-108 that may transmitwireless signals or broadcasts. Tags may transmit wireless signals, suchas broadcasts with tag ID information. Many types of tags may lack apower source and transmit a tag ID as an inductive response to areceived signal. Other tags may have a power source and/or includeadditional circuitry for receiving signals and processing commands. Forexample, FIGS. 2A-2C are block diagrams illustrating a tag 200 accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of a simple tag which has anembedded antenna 200 that receives a tag reader signal that energizestag 200 so that it may have power to transmit a responsive RED signal tothe tag reader. Such a tag may also include a circuit 204 fortransmitting a tag ID. For example, circuit 204 may include an NFCcircuit (accessory NFC circuit) that can be powered by and communicatewith a UE NFC circuit using short-range high frequency wirelesscommunication technology which enables the exchange of data betweendevices over about a 10 cm distance, although the NFC circuits are notlimited to operating in at any defined range. The communication protocoland operation can be an extension of the ISO 14443 proximity-cardstandard (contactless card, RFID) and can be specified in the ECMA-340and ISO/IEC 18092 technology standards. Some embodiments of the NFCcircuits may communicate using existing ISO 14443 smartcards and readersand can thereby be compatible with existing contactless communicationinfrastructure.

The NFC circuits may communicate via magnetic field induction. A loopantenna connected to the NFC circuit and a loop antenna of the accessoryNFC circuit may be placed in close proximity to each other within theother's antenna near field, thereby effectively forming an air-coretransformer. Some embodiments of the NFC circuits can transmit withinthe globally available and unlicensed radio frequency ISM band of 13.56MHz, with a bandwidth of almost 2 MHz. Some embodiments of the NFCcircuits can support data rates of 106, 212, or 424 kbit/s using amodified Miller coding or Manchester coding to encode and decodecommunicated data.

The accessory NFC circuit can be configured to operate in a passivecommunication mode, because the tag 200 does not have its own powersource. In contrast, the UE NFC circuit can be configured to operate inan active communication mode if the tag 200 has a power source, e.g.,rechargeable battery. When operating in the passive communication mode,the UE NFC circuit provides a carrier field and the accessory NFCcircuit answers by modulating the carrier field. In this mode, theaccessory NFC circuit generates its operating power from the NFC circuitprovided electromagnetic field, thus making the accessory NFC circuit atransponder. In some other embodiments the accessory NFC circuitcontains a power supply and is configured to operate in an activecommunication mode.

The NFC circuit includes a charging circuit that can become inductivelycoupled to the UE NFC circuit through the transceiver circuit togenerate power therefrom, and which it provides to a transceivercircuit. The transceiver circuit transmits data through the antenna tothe UE NFC circuit using the power from the charging circuit. Thetransceiver circuit may optionally be configured to receive data throughthe antenna from the UE NFC circuit.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, tag 200 may include a short-range wirelesstransmitter 230. Transmitter 230 may include a transmitter circuit totransmit radio frequency communication signals via an antenna system.The antenna system may include an antenna feed structure and one or moreantennas. In some embodiments, transmitter 230 may include a transceivercircuit that is operative to also receive communication signals. Tag 200may include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) circuit210 or an NFC circuit for transmitting a tag ID and/or for other logicoperations.

In some cases, as shown in FIG. 2C, tag 200 may also include a processor220 that includes circuits for overall operation of the tag 200including coordination of communications via transmitter 230. Processorcircuit 220 may be configured to communicate data over the transmitter230 according to one or more short range wireless communicationprotocols, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) protocols, ANTprotocols, WLAN protocols (e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g,and/or 802.11i), or other short range wireless communication protocols.The transmitter 230 may be, for example, a low power Bluetooth(registered trademark) protocol transmitter or an ANT protocoltransmitter, such as those designed and marketed by DynastreamInnovations Inc., a Cochrane, Canada based company. This tag 200 mayalso have an NFC circuit.

The processor 220 may be implemented using a variety of hardware andsoftware. For example, operations of the processor 220 may beimplemented using special-purpose hardware, such as an ASIC, and/orprogrammable logic devices such as gate arrays, and/or software orfirmware running on a computing device such as a microprocessor,microcontroller or digital signal processor (DSP).

Tag 200 may also include a tag identification module 210 that operateswith memory 240 to store identification information, such as a uniquetag ID. The tag ID may also uniquely identify a moveable object attachedto the tag. For example, two different moveable objects can haverespective tags that each store different ID information that can beused to distinguish the two moveable objects. In some embodiments, tag200 may have a power source or may be connected to a power source.

As shown in FIG. 1, a tag sensor, such as tag reader 110, may receivewireless transmissions from tags 102-108. In some embodiments, tagreader 110 may be a mobile communication terminal. A mobilecommunication terminal may be, for example, a smart phone, Personal DataAssistant (PDA), laptop, tablet, scanner or any other mobile computingdevice that may have capabilities including cellular telecommunication,Internet/intranet access, and/or a global positioning system (GPS)service. The mobile communication terminal may also support Wi-Ficommunication over a local wireless network or the like. While tagsensors are generally described herein as mobile devices moving intoproximity of a movable object being located, it will be understood thatthe tag sensors may also be non-mobile devices having locationsassociated therewith that detect movement of a movable object into theirproximity (i.e., within range of a short range wireless protocol networksupported by the tag sensor).

Tags may be registered. Tag registration may be used to connect theowner of a tag to the actual physical tag. Typically, tags are notconnected to any user/owner when bought from the store. In order to takeownership of the tag, the user/owner must register themselves as ownerof the tag before it is used. The owner of a tag may be permitted torelay any kind of permission to other users once registered. Forinstance, it may be useful to enable tags to be shared between familymembers.

Tag reader 110 may format and/or communicate the received tagtransmissions to another computer, such as tag management server 120,over network 130. The transmissions may be included in a tagtransmission report, which may include one or more tag IDs transmittedonce or a number of times. Network 130 may be any network commonlyemployed to provide voice and data communications to subscribers.

According to various embodiments, tags may be clustered together and asingle tag of the cluster may represent the cluster. For example, tags102-108 may be clustered together such that only tag 106 broadcasts,while tags, 102, 104 and 108 do not broadcast and remain silent,receiving broadcasts from tag 106. Tag 106 becomes the master tag, whiletags 102, 104 and 108 become slave or listener tags. This may savespectrum bandwidth, save energy in tags and mobile phones, increaseanonymity of tags and/or minimize the risk falling victim to theft.

If updated information is received for the master tag ID, this updatedinformation is used to update stored information for the other tags ofthe tag cluster, as shown in FIG. 11.

Clustering is managed from a cloud service, such as tag managementserver 120, which may appoint a master tag for the cluster of tags. Thecloud service, through tag management server 120, may send a controlcommand to each listener tag. For example, tag management server 120 maysend a control command to tag reader 110, which sends a control commandto the listener tags to enter silent mode, or listen only mode. Suchcommands may be addressed specifically to the listener tags based on anidentity of the listener tags. The master tag may not receive such acontrol command. The control command may also include an identity of themaster tag.

Once a tag receives the control command and/or an identity of a masterit will stop broadcasting and start listening for the master taginstead. It will become a listening tag. As long as the master tag isavailable and broadcasting, the listening tag will keep silent. In someembodiments, the master does not change its behavior.

A tag reader may then only transmit the master's single identity to thecloud service, or tag management server 120. FIG. 4 is a block diagramthat illustrates a cloud service server, such as tag management server120, according to some embodiments. Tag management server 120 mayinclude a processor 420 to control a communication interface 430 thatreceives tag transmission reports from tag reader 110 over network 130.

Tag management server 120 may include a memory 440 including a datastructure, such as tag cluster mapping data table 442, for storing amapping of tags that belong to a cluster. This mapping may indicatewhich tag is the master tag, and indicate which tags are the listenertags. Such a mapping may include tag identification (IDs) of the tagsand maybe a current location of the tags based on a current location ofthe master tag of the cluster. Tag cluster manager 410 may be configuredto determine which tag may be a master tag and send out control commandsto listener tags. Tag cluster manager 410 may select a master tag basedon a number of factors, including the type of each tag, location of eachtag in a cluster (more central location such that other tags may receiveits broadcasts, how tags are installed, whether tags have a powersource, a history of being a master tag, a location of a tag, whetherthe tag is stationary or mobile, or other factors involving thecharacteristics of the tags and the context of the tags.

Memory 440 may store computer program instructions that, when executedby the processor circuit 420, carry out the operations described hereinand shown in the figures. The memory 440 can be a volatile memory or anon-volatile memory, such as EPROM (flash memory), that retains thestored data while power is removed from the memory 440.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart that illustrates operations of a method forclustering tags, according to some embodiments. In block 700, tagtransmission reports are received from a tag sensor that receiveswireless transmissions from a plurality of tags. The tag transmissionreports may be received by a computing device of a remote service orcloud service, which may include one or more servers such as tagmanagement server 120. Tag IDs of the tags in the transmission reportsmay be determined (block 710).

Tag management server 120 may group a plurality of the tag IDs into atag cluster (block 720). A tag cluster may be two or more tags groupedtogether. One of the tag IDs of the tag cluster is selected as a mastertag ID to represent the tag cluster (block 730). The tag correspondingto the master tag ID becomes the master tag.

Tag management server 120 instructs the tag reader to transmit a controlcommand to each tag of the tag cluster except for a master tagcorresponding to the master tag ID (block 740). The control commandinstructs each tag of the tag cluster except the master tag to stopbroadcasting wireless transmissions. As a result, only transmissionsfrom the master tag are received by the tag readers. Transmissions fromthe other tags of the tag cluster are not received.

As tag management server 120 knows that the master tag represents awhole cluster of tags, information about the master tag will cause tagcluster manager 410 to update information in data table 442 for thewhole cluster of tags simultaneously. The cloud service will interpret alocation update from the master as an update of the whole cluster. Ifthe whole cluster of tags move, the master's new position will bereported to the cloud and all silent tags will also get their positionupdated by the cloud.

For example, FIG. 8 is a flowchart that illustrates operations of amethod for updating information for a tag cluster, according to someembodiments. In block 800, transmission reports are received from tagreaders that include the master tag ID but not any other tag IDs of thetag cluster, for instance, as defined by a cluster mapping in data table442.

Updated information is determined from the information associated withreceiving the master tag ID (block 810). Information for all tag IDs ofthe tag cluster, including all tag IDs not the master tag ID, is updatedbased on the updated information of the master tag ID (block 820).Information may include locations and time of locations. Information mayalso include what tag readers detected what master tags at what times.

For example, FIG. 11 shows entries of a data structure maintained by tagmanagement server 120, such as in tag cluster mapping data table 442,according to some embodiments. Entry 1106 shows that tag ID 1116 for tag106, which is indicated as the selected master tag ID. Information ofthe master tag ID 1116 includes information that a transmission (ortransmissions depending on the frequency of the transmissions) frommaster tag ID 1116 was detected at tag reader A at time X. As some tagtransmissions are broadcast quite frequently, perhaps once a second, itis understood that embodiments may take into consideration the frequencyof broadcasts and whether it is useful to perform such operations forevery single broadcast or to consider broadcasts only during a specificperiod of time, time window, or number of broadcasts.

Entries 1102, 1106 and 1108 for tag IDs 1112, 1114 and 1118,respectively, are all the other tags that form a tag cluster that mastertag ID 1116 represents. For example, master tag ID 1116 may be a tag ina car and tag IDs 1112, 1114 and 1118 may be correspond to tags placedon or embedded in a phone, a wallet and a laptop. All of these entriesin the tag cluster mapping data table 442 are updated with the sameinformation that updated entry 1106 of the master tag ID 1116. That is,all entries of the tag cluster indicate that they were detected by tagreader A at time X.

If a listening tag is separated from the cluster, it will cease todetect broadcasts from the master and start broadcasting as normal. Whenthe cloud receives a broadcast from the separated tag, it will beunderstood that the listening tag has left the cluster and will updatethe cluster representation accordingly.

If the master is separated from the cluster, as shown by thedisappearance of tag 106 in FIG. 5, the listening tags will detect alack of broadcasting from master tag 106 over a threshold time and,responsive thereto, will start broadcasting as normal. In this case, theappointment of a new master tag is possible, such as tag 104 in FIG. 6.

When tag reader 110, which may be a mobile phone, reports a number oftags in one message, which may represent a similar location, tagmanagement server 120 may determine that there is potential forclustering the tag together. Perhaps, there may be some decision tocluster tags based on certain conditions and a threshold for one or moreconditions.

In a further example, tag management server 120 may specify a list ofpotential masters in priority order, as in the master priority list 1200shown in FIG. 12. The listener tags may also serve as backup masters,and may be configured to automatically wake up if the master above themin the priority list becomes unavailable.

For example, tag management server 120 may determine and map threepotential masters, tag IDs 1116, 1114 and 1112 for tags 106, 104 and102, respectively. The highest priority tag ID is tag ID 1116 in listposition 1202. Accordingly, tag 106 may be the primary master and remainbroadcasting while others are silent. Tag 104, with tag ID 1114 in listposition 1204, may be the secondary master and will listen only for tag106. If it fails to hear tag 106, it may wake up and become the newmaster. Tag 102 may be a third master in the list, as tag ID 1112 inposition 1206, and will listen to tag 106, then tag 104. If it fails tohear tag 106, then fails to hear tag 104, it may wake up and become thenew master. In this example, tag 108 is only a listener tag. Tag clustermanager 410 of tag management server 120 may store this priority list inits data table and then share this priority list in a control command tothe listener tags. This master priority list allows for the wholecluster to keep silent as long as any of the masters are still availablein the cluster.

The tag cluster manager 410 may form the master priority list based on anumber of factors, including a type of item that a tag is placed onto.This information may be obtained and stored in data table 442. Forexample, if the tag is used on an item that can contain other items(like a car, bag or house), it could have a higher priority value forselection as a master, because it will likely not move from the clusterunless the cluster of items moves along with it. In another example, ifa tag is a static tag that has continuous access to power, such a tagcould also be prioritized, because power consumption would not be anissue for this tag.

In some cases, the identity of a tag may be changed periodically, suchas every hour. To avoid the need to recluster each time, as soon as amaster changes its identity it is possible for the cloud service to senda list of future or alternate identities for each master to allow thecluster to be kept for a longer period. In this case all alternateidentities for the first master should be listed in chronological orderfirst in the priority master list, then all ID's for the secondarymaster and so on. This allows the cluster to persist even if the masterchanges its identity or leaves the cluster.

As one tag represent a whole tag cluster, two clusters can be merged bymaking one master a listener to another master. This can be a veryeffective way to re-organize cluster structure without the need toreconfigure every silent tag.

Embodiments have been described with identity tags, which can beclustered effectively. However, this concept is not limited to identitytags. Sensor or control tags can also make use of this clusteringarchitecture. Most sensor applications may not require sensor data to besubmitted every second. Therefore, a sensor can buffer sensor datainternally and stay silent until the data needs to be uploaded. A dataupload can be triggered from the tag itself or from the cloud service.

A tag may allow sensor data to be transmitted by leaving the listeningmode and entering active broadcast mode. The cloud service may reportback to the tag that sensor data has been received by using a controlcommand. In this way, the tag can know when it is appropriate to go backto listening mode.

The cloud service can initiate a sensor upload using a wakeup message,which allows the tag to have “direct” contact with the cloud service(through a tag reader). This may make the tag report sensor dataactively again. When the sensor data has been received, the cloud canmake the tag a listener again using the same process described above.

A similar process can be performed for control tags. The cloud may haveto wake the tag before a control command is sent to it. If the cloudknows that the command has been executed (through tag reader data), itcan make the tag a listener tag again.

Tags may operate as master tags or listener tags, according to someembodiments. A tag may be selected as a master tag and may continue tobroadcast as normal. A listener tag may be commanded to be silent whengrouped into a tag cluster. For example, FIG. 10 is a flowchart thatillustrates operations of a tag of a tag cluster, according to someembodiments. A tag may broadcast wireless transmissions and thetransmissions may include a tag ID of the tag (block 1000 of FIG. 10).However, the tag may receive a control command from the tag reader(block 1010). Responsive to the control command, the tag may preventfurther broadcasting of wireless transmissions (block 1020). Thesetransmissions may be in response to signals received by a tag reader.These transmissions may also be transmissions in a broadcast mode of thetag in response to a first signal of the tag reader but do not require asignal from the tag reader for every broadcast transmission.

The tag may receive wireless transmissions from the master tag that isselected or appointed to be the master tag (block 1030). It may expectto receive no other transmissions from tags of the tag cluster.

Tags may also make decisions independent of the cloud service, accordingto some embodiments. For example, when a listener tag receives a “becomelistener” message, it may receive an ordered list of identities, ormaster list, that the tag should listen for, instead of broadcasting.The list can include identities of different tags or several identitiesrepresenting a single tag or any combination. While the listener tagreceives broadcasts from the master tag at the top of the ID list, thelistener tag will keep silent and only listen.

The tag will listen for broadcasts from the tag with an ID at the top ofthe list. If it cannot hear this master (for a certain timeout period),it may discard the identity and try to listen for a new master. Whensearching for a new master, a listener tag may increase or widen thelistening window for a faster search. When a new broadcast is received,the master list may be searched to see if the broadcast originates froma new master. Identities above the found master ID may be discarded.When a new master is found, the tag can synchronize its listening windowto the master again or narrow its listening window. This may provide forless transmission or the use of less power during normal operation. Ifno new master is identified for a certain period of time or for acertain listening window, the whole master list may be discarded and thetag will go back to its default broadcasting behavior.

The master broadcast message, may also include a wake-up message whichwake up every listening tag or a subset of them. This wake-up messagemay be delivered at the command of the cloud service. Each listening tagmust read the broadcast message to determine if it should wake up ornot. A general wake-up message can be represented as a single bit orflag of the broadcast message, while a listener specific wake-up commandmust include the identity of the listener tag to wake up.

One way to make use of the clustering solution for mischief is to attach“virtual spy tags” on a cluster. A physical tag may be attached to theitem to be tracked without authorization. The tag will be included inthe cluster mapping as a listening tag. If the tag is unpowered, it willbe silent forever, but still virtually part of the cluster mapping untilthe cluster mapping dissolves for other reasons.

This may make the tag impossible to scan for (because it does notphysically exist in the cluster) and it would be impossible to remove ordestroy. One way to handle this is to force re-clustering as soon as themaster relocates. In this way the virtual spy tag will be excluded fromthe cluster mapping.

When an item is carried and later dropped, it is beneficial if the exactdrop location is registered with the cloud service. However, this may bemore efficient if the mobile phone of the person carrying the item hadthe functionality of tag management server 120. According to someembodiments, a mobile communication terminal 900 may perform thefunctions of tag management server 120. For example, mobilecommunication terminal 900 may act as a tag reader and receive tagtransmissions through communication interface 940. Tag IDs may bedetermined for the tags. Processor 920 may cause tag ID associationcomparator 910 to perform comparisons between tag IDs and associationinformation stored in a data structure in memory 950, such as tag IDassociation data table 952. A notification may be generated when acomparison indicates that one or more tag IDs are not associated withthe other tag IDs.

The mobile communication terminal 900 may also receive configurationinformation and provide detection information through touchscreendisplay 930. Mobile communication terminal 900 may also includeownership information for the mobile communication terminal 900 in datatable 952. In some cases, mobile communication terminal 900 may itselfinclude a tag with ID information that uniquely identifies the mobilecommunication terminal 900.

For silent tags, an exact location might not be registered for alocation of a dropped item because the dropped item may not start tobroadcast before it is out of range of the master and possibly also thetag reader. Additionally, RSSI signal strength may not be able toimprove the precision of the drop location because the tag is silent asthe owner moves away from it. However, this may not be a huge problem ifthe person owns the item that was dropped. In this situation, a“connected” link to the tag may be used such that a broken connection,or link-loss, is detected when an item is dropped. In connected mode,the signal strength may also be monitored continuously.

As described above, a cloud service, including tag management server120, may organize and manage the tags. In other embodiments, tags mayself-organize into clusters. In this architecture, tags periodicallylisten for other tags and can communicate with close-by tags todetermine if it can become a listener. For example, each tag listens forother tags periodically. If a tag can hear another tag, it can determineto become a listener tag to the other tag. It does so by communicatingits identity to the other tag, which becomes a master. Masters may keepa list of all listener tags it reports. Because the cloud service maynot know about this self-organized cluster, all listener tag identitiesmay be reported to the cloud service (from the master tag) to allow thecloud service to know about all tags in the cluster.

A tag broadcast with more than one identity may indicate that the tag isa master. When a master and single broadcasting tags detect one another,the single broadcasting tags may become the listener tags to the mastertag to avoid reconfiguration.

Masters may know not when listener tags leave the cluster. But aslistener tags will turn into active tags as soon as the master is lost,the cloud service will understand that the listener tag has moved out ofthe cluster. In some cases, the cloud service may report back to themasters (through a control command) to allow it to remove the missinglistener tag from any list or mapping.

Alternatively, a maximum lifetime of masters may be used to allow thecluster to reconfigure. When the master wants to demote itself, perhapsfor power usage reasons, it may discard its list of listener tags andbecome a single broadcasting tag. Listener tags may detect this changewhen their tag ID is not present as part of the original mastersbroadcast. This, in turn, allows them to reconfigure to active,broadcasting tags.

In some cases, a cloud service may prioritize a broadcast from a singlebroadcasting tag over the same tag represented as a listening tagreported from a master tag.

According to some embodiments, only tags are broadcasting. Tag readers,which may include smartphones, provide information from the cloudservice to the tags by addressing specific listener tags. A tag addressmay be its current broadcast identity. Tag readers may get a number ofbroadcasts, including tag identities, and are able to send a controlmessage to each of these specific listener tags.

The cloud service may maintain a database and a tag reader may not haveto maintain constant communication with the cloud service. Rather, thecloud service may send control messages and/or instructions to tagreaders. It may not matter which tag reader or smart phone deliverscontrol messages to the tags. It may not be the same tag reader thatreceives transmissions and delivers control messages as the cloudservice may control the tags.

Although the cloud service may control the tags, the cloud service maynot need to be involved when masters are leaving a tag cluster if thereare multiple tags that may become masters, according to someembodiments. No reorganization of cluster or communication with thecloud service may be necessary if a master leaves. The cloud service mayinstruct the tags as to how to independently reorganize and operate whenone or more masters leave the tag cluster. For example, if there are 10cars in a parking garage and all have tags, one is a master. If the carwith the master tag drives away, another tag will become the master tag.It will start broadcasting and all other tags will listen.

A cloud service may select one or more master tags by comparing tag IDsand information associated with the tag IDs. Tags can have differentcapabilities and information about these capabilities may be stored bythe cloud service in a data table. Criteria for master selection mayinclude whether a tag has a power supply. If a tag has a power supply,it may be better suited to be master. Some tags may be installed intocertain devices at the time of manufacture of the devices or when thedevice is upgraded. Such devices may also have information that mayindicate that they may be better masters. For example, some tags may beinstalled in cars and may be a better master than moveable items in thecar.

Some tags may become masters because they are in a better position toreceive the other tag transmissions. For example, the best tag maylikely be in the middle of a cluster of all tags that can receivetransmissions from the middle tag. Tags can be chosen based on variousother conditions and characteristics.

If tag clusters merge, the cloud service may decide which master tag orother tag is the new master tag of the merged cluster.

The cloud service may also force re-clustering when a master relocatesin order to shed a spy tag. To do so, the cloud service may send awake-up control message to all listener tags. In some cases, the cloudservice may only have contact with the master tag as only the master tagbroadcasts transmissions. So to wake a tag cluster, the cloud servicemay only need to send a control message to the master tag, which in turnsends a wake up message to all the listener tags. The master tag maycontinue to send broadcasts but let the cloud service specify, in acontrol command, a flag or the like in the broadcast message to wake upthe listener tags. The master tag may modify the control command fromthe cloud service and send a wake up command to all listeners. Tags thatare woken up (wake up flag) wake up and become normal broadcasting tags.After that, the tags can recluster and the process starts all overagain.

A spy tag may really be a virtual tag, rather than a physical tag. Acloud service may be tricked into including the virtual tag in a clustermapping. For example, a tag may start up and be included in the cluster,then its battery may be removed. Then, if the master tag moves, thecloud service may keep mapping with the spy tag, even though a physicaltag is no longer there. If reclustering occurs, the tag may not beincluded in the new tag cluster.

If one of a thousand tags leaves a cluster, it will not hear the masteranymore and will start broadcasting. The cloud service will know whenthe tag broadcasts so it will remove it from the cluster mapping.

Tags may listen during a window of time rather than continuously, whichwould drain its power. Listening tags may synchronize its listeningwindow with the master tag's broadcasts. When a listener tag no longerreceives transmissions from a master tag during a listening window, itmay extend the window for a certain time period to better hear asecondary master tag. If the listener tag still does not detecttransmissions of a master tag, it may start broadcasting. If it receivesa transmission with a new master tag ID, it may synchronize the timewindow with the new master tag broadcast window. A secondary master tagmay also be instructed to keep the timing window of the first master tagso all other listener tags need not adjust their listening windows.

In some embodiments, if a secondary master tag observes no broadcasttransmissions from a primary master, the secondary master tag may becomethe primary master tag and may take on that timing window. The tag maynot need to extend its listening window.

The transmissions may be transmitted in a tag transmission report. Thetag transmission report may be a single transmission to server 120 or anumber of transmissions to server 120 over a period of time. A tagtransmission report may include one or more tag IDs. According to someembodiments, tag reader 110 or server 120 can determine locationinformation (or have location information determined), using for exampleGPS, which may be provided to a location service/computer server(location server) where this location information may be associated withthe ID Information for each moveable object. As the location informationis periodically determined, it can be used to update the locationinformation for the moveable objects. The location information can alsoinclude a time and/or history for each location of the moveable object.

The embodiments described herein provide various advantages. There havebeen reported incidents of thieves scanning cars at parking areas to seeif there are transmitters in the cars. The presence of a transmitter mayindicate that a valuable device is located inside the car. If a car hasa tag that broadcasts, no other tag representing a device in the carneeds to be broadcasting. Therefore, when tagged keys, a tagged walletand a tagged laptop enter a car, the devices go into silent mode as longas they receive wireless transmissions from the master tag of the car.Potential thieves cannot detect if there are more things available inthe car, since only the car tag will be broadcasting. Also, as a result,there will be fewer transmissions in a parking garage. In some cases,static tags in parking lots may act as masters for all cars and theiritems.

Embodiments described herein may also provide for improved powerefficiency. Since silent tags do not broadcast, their batteries willlast longer. Also a more silent environment with fewer broadcasts willalso wake up the mobile phones in the surrounding less often and willcause significantly less communication towards the telecom network. Thismay decrease the load on the network, the amount of data that needs tobe sent and lower the fee for any subscription. This will put lowerstress on the mobile phone power consumption and subscription data fee.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theparticular configuration shown in FIGS. 1 through 12, but is intended toencompass any configuration capable of carrying out operations describedherein. While particular functionalities are shown in particular blocksby way of illustration, functionalities of different blocks and/orportions thereof may be combined, divided, and/or eliminated. Moreover,the functionality of the hardware/software architecture of FIGS. 1through 12 may be implemented as a single processor system or amulti-processor system in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent invention.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typicalpreferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms areemployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and notfor purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forthin the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tag management server for grouping aplurality of tags, the server comprising: a processor; a communicationinterface coupled to the processor; a memory coupled to the processorand comprising computer readable program code embodied in the memorythat when executed by the processor causes the processor to performoperations comprising: receiving, at the communication interface, one ormore tag transmission reports from one or more tag readers that receiveswireless transmissions from the plurality a tags; determining a tagidentification (ID) corresponding to each tag of the plurality of tagsin the one or more tag transmission reports; grouping a plurality of thetag IDs into a tag cluster; selecting one of the tag IDs as a master tagID to represent the tag cluster; and instructing the one or more tagreaders to transmit a control command to each tag of the tag clusterexcept for a master tag corresponding to the master tag ID, the controlcommand instructing each tag of the tag cluster except the master tag tostop broadcasting wireless transmissions.
 2. The server of claim 1,wherein the one or more tag transmission reports comprises a firsttransmission report comprising tag IDs for wireless transmissions fromthe plurality of tags, and wherein the operations further comprisereceiving a second tag transmission report from the one or more tagreaders comprising the master tag ID but not tag IDs of other tags ofthe tag cluster.
 3. The server of claim 2, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: determining updated information of the master tag IDfrom the second tag transmission report; and updating information storedat the tag management server for all tag IDs of the tag cluster based onthe updated information of the master tag ID.
 4. The server of claim 1,wherein the control command comprises instructions for each tag of thetag cluster except the master tag to listen for broadcasts from themaster tag.
 5. The server of claim 1, wherein the control commandcomprises a master priority list comprising a prioritized list of tagIDs of the tag cluster, wherein a tag of the tag cluster becomes themaster tag according to a priority of the corresponding tag ID in themaster priority list.
 6. The server of claim 5, wherein the masterpriority list comprises a plurality of alternate IDs for each tag ID inthe master priority list, wherein each tag of the tag cluster that isnot the master tag listens for wireless transmissions of a highestpriority tag ID and alternate ID.
 7. The server of claim 6, wherein thecontrol command further comprises instructions for the master tag tobroadcast during a broadcast time window and for any other tags tolisten during the broadcast time window.
 8. The server of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise instructing the one or more tagreaders to transmit a wake command to the master tag, the wake commandinstructing the master tag to include a wake up flag in a wirelesstransmission to cause other tags of the tag cluster not broadcastingwireless transmissions to resume broadcasting wireless transmissions. 9.A mobile communication terminal for grouping a plurality of tags, themobile communication terminal comprising: a processor; a communicationinterface coupled to the processor; a memory coupled to the processorand comprising computer readable program code embodied in the memorythat when executed by the processor causes the processor to performoperations comprising: receiving, at the communication interface,wireless transmissions from the plurality of tags; determining a tagidentification (ID) corresponding to each tag of the plurality of tagsfrom the wireless transmissions; grouping a plurality of the tag IDsinto a tag cluster; selecting one of the tag IDs as a master tag ID torepresent the tag cluster; and transmitting a control command to eachtag of the tag cluster except for a master tag corresponding to themaster tag ID, the control command instructing each tag of the tagcluster except the master tag to stop broadcasting wirelesstransmissions.
 10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 9, whereinthe wireless transmissions of the plurality of tags comprise tag IDs,and wherein the operations further comprise receiving wirelesstransmissions from the master tag but not from other tags of the tagcluster.
 11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 10, furthercomprising: determining updated information of the master tag ID fromthe wireless transmissions from the master tag; and updating informationstored at the mobile communication terminal for all tag IDs of the tagcluster based on the updated information of the master tag ID.
 12. Themobile communication terminal of claim 9, wherein the control commandcomprises instructions for each tag of the tag cluster except the mastertag to listen for broadcasts from the master tag.
 13. The mobilecommunication terminal of claim 9, wherein the control command comprisesa master priority list comprising a prioritized list of tag IDs of thetag cluster, wherein a tag of the tag cluster becomes the master tagaccording to a priority of the corresponding tag ID in the masterpriority list.
 14. A tag comprising: a communication interface coupledto the processor that is configured to receive and transmit wirelesstransmissions; a digital logic circuit configured to perform operationscomprising: broadcasting wireless transmissions comprising a tagidentification (ID) of the tag responsive to receiving signals from atag reader; receiving a control command from the tag reader; preventing,responsive to the control command, further broadcasting of wirelesstransmissions in response to signals received from the tag reader; andreceiving wireless transmissions from a master tag appointed torepresent the tag and other tags that form a cluster of tags.
 15. Thetag of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise resumingbroadcasting of the wireless transmissions responsive to no longerdetecting wireless transmissions from the master tag within a listeningtime window.
 16. The tag of claim 15, wherein the operations furthercomprise widening the listening time window responsive to no longerdetecting wireless transmissions from the master tag during thelistening time window.
 17. The tag of claim 16, wherein the operationsfurther comprise narrowing the listening time window responsive toreceiving wireless transmissions from a new master tag during thewidened listening time window.
 18. The tag of claim 14, wherein thecontrol command further comprises a master priority list comprising aprioritized list of tag IDs, and wherein the operations furthercomprise: listening for wireless transmissions from a tag having a tagID matching a highest priority tag ID in the master priority list; andresponsive to detecting no wireless transmissions from the master taghaving a tag ID matching a highest priority tag ID in the masterpriority list during a listening time window, discarding the highestpriority tag ID in the master priority list and listening for wirelesstransmissions from a tag having a tag ID matching a new highest prioritytag ID in the master priority list.
 19. The tag of claim 18, wherein theoperations further comprise: broadcasting wireless transmissionsresponsive to detecting no wireless transmissions from a tag having atag ID matching a priority tag ID in the master priority list during thelistening time window.
 20. The tag of claim 18, wherein the masterpriority list comprises a plurality of alternate IDs for each tag ID inthe master priority list, and wherein the operations further comprise:listening for wireless transmissions from a tag having a tag ID and analternate ID matching a highest priority tag ID and alternate ID in themaster priority list; and responsive to detecting no wirelesstransmissions from the master tag having a tag ID and an alternate IDmatching a highest priority tag ID and alternate ID in the masterpriority list during the listening time window, discarding the highestpriority tag ID and alternate ID in the master priority list andlistening for wireless transmissions from a tag having a tag ID matchingthe highest priority tag ID and a new alternate ID in the masterpriority list.